Stoking-grate.



H. BENTON.

STOKING GRATE.

(No Model.)

(Application filed Mar. 4, 1899.)

Patented Dec. 5, I899.

5 Shasta-Sheet l.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: Q ;Q W M ATTORNEYS No. 638,659. Patented Dec. 5,I899. H. BENTON.

STUKING GRATE.

(Application filed Mar. 4, 1898.)

5 Sh eets-Sheet 2.

('No Model.)

ENTOR;

WITNESSES;

TTORNEYS.

9 9 w m G D d e t n 6 t a P .L u R TG G MN m T 8 .5 9 5 0o 3 5 n N(Application filed Mar. 4, 1899.)

5 Sha'ets$heet 3.

(N0 Modal.)

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR fi w wfi /ATTORNEYS No. 638,659. Patented Dec. 5,I899. H. BENTON.

STUKING GBATE.

(Application filed Mar. 4, 1899.) o Mo e 5 sheets-Sheet 4.

ATTORNEYS.

No. 638,659. Patented Dec. 5, I899. H. BENTON.

.STOKING GBATE.

(Applicgtion filed m. 4, 1899.) '(No Mndeh) 5 Shuts-Sheet 5.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR a W EEI- 'W,%@

/ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BENTON, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLESB. RING, OF LORRAINE, NEW JERSEY.

STOKlNG-G RATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,659, dated December5, 1899.

Ap li ation filed March 4, 1899. Serial No, 707,701. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY BENTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stoking-Grates; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters and numerals of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide a grate which willconstantly change its upper surface in contact with the fire, so as toprevent the said surface from becoming unduly heated and melted orburned at its point of contact with the fire, to prevent the grate fromwarping due to excessive heating, to keep the bed of coals in acontinuous state of movement, whereby the said bed will not becomeclogged with ashes or the draft obstructed by clinkers, to providesimple and efficient means for producing a substantially continuousmovement, to enable the ashes to be deposited in the ash-pitautomatically, and to secure other advantages and results, some of whichmay be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of theworking. parts.

The invention consists in the improved stoker and grate for furnaces,&;c., and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, allsubstantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embraced inthe clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters andnumerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of theseveral views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the stoker or grateadapted to be wheeled into position in the furnace or removed therefromfor purposes of repair or for other purposes. Fig. 1 is a verticallongitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of one of a series of boxesproviding bearings for the grate-bars. Fig. 1 is a plan View of thesame. Fig. 2 is a section of the stoker or grate, taken at line a: inFig. 1, portions of the walls of the furnace the arrangement of guardsmore clearly. Fig. i

6 is a side elevation of a certain jack-wheel upon which thestoker-frame is carried; and Fig. 7is a sect-ion of the same, taken atline 2. Fig. 8 is a plan of a portion of the stoker or grate, showingtherelalivearrangementoflhe grate-bars and operating parts more clearly.Fig. 9 is a derail side view of the upper edge of one of the side platesof the frame. Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of thegrate, showing a certain center-support more clearly in its relations tothe grate. Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the same on line 2, Fig. '10.Fig. 12 is an enlarged side view of a certain pawl and ratchet forrotating the grate-bars; and Fig. 13 is a plan of the same, all saidparts thus briefly mentioned being hereinafter more fully described indetail.

As shown in the drawings, my improved grate consists of a fire-bedformed of circular, approximately circular, or polygonal plates arrangedvertically edgewise and sufficiently close together to prevent the coalsdropping through any spaces between said plates. The plates are fixed inparallel series upon transversely-extending shafts, those of a series onone shaft being separate from one another sulficiently to allow theplates of the series upon the adjacent shafts on either side to extendin between the plates of the first-mentioned series. The said shafts arerotated by appropriate mechanism, hereinafter more fully described, soas to cause the disks or plates thereon to rotate all in one direction,and this produces an agitation at the bottom of the fire which removesthe ashes and clinkers and secures an always clean fire, the amount ofagitation being controlled by varying the speed of rotation of theshafts and plates.

In the drawings, a indicates a frame upon which the grate-bars havetheir bearings. Said frame consists, preferably, of side plates on, ofcast metal, the upper edges of which are formed on an inclinecorresponding more or less closely to the incline of the tubes of" theboiler arranged above the grate. The said upper edge of each side plateis preferably provided with a series of angular recesses a adapted toreceive square boxes b,said boxes being provided at their sides withflanges b,

adapted to overlap the sides of the frame, and

thus hold the boxes in proper relative. posi-. tion with respectthereto. At the said notched upper edge the side plate a is thickened orprovided with a strengthening-rib a Figs. 1 and 1, which follows theoutline of said upper edge and provides a more firm seat for the'boxesI).- Said boxes are perforated to receive sleeves or bushings c c, whichlatter are arranged upon the axial ends of the square or angular shaftsd and held thereto by keys 0, the said bushings thus taking the'wear dueto rotation which would otherwise come on the shaft.

The shafts d are in an inclined series and extend from side plate toside plate, and on the same are arranged in series the angular plates 6e, said angular plates being octagonal, dodecagonal, or polygonal. Theseplates are angular, so as to produce something ofa lifting movement aseach angle is brought.

vertically beneath the bed of coals. The said plates e are preferablyprovided with hubs 6', each of about one-eighth of an inch, more orless, greater length than the thicknessof the plate on which it isformed and sowhen thesaid plates are arranged upon the shaft-in se-jries spaces will be formed between thep'l'ates.

Each of said spaces is little greater in width than the thickness of aplate, and thus the outer peripheral portion of a plate on one shaft mayenter the space formed between the corresponding parts of two plates onanother shaft to eifect a free movement of the plates without friction.The square or angular shafts d are arranged a distance apart sufficientto cause an overlappingof the plates, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4:.The plates upon one shaft do not extend up to the hubs of the platesupon the shafts next in series; but openings are formed between the hubsand the peripheral edges of the plates, as at 6 through which the airmay pass upward to supply oxygen to the f urnacecoals. When I employvery fine fuel--such as coal-dust, buckwheat, or soft coal of very smallsize I partly close the said openings e by means of guards looselyarranged upon the hubs of the plates, as indicated in Figs. 3 and at.The'said guards comprise slotted ears f, at the upper edges of which areformed notched flanges f, the notched flanges extending across thespaces formed between the plates and the notches in said flanges beingsmall to prevent the gravitation of very fine dust and yet permitting asufficient passage of air to the burning coals. The slot f in the ear fof the guard permits a limited vertical movement of the flange fpreventing the plates e from being damaged and obstructed in theirmovements by the flanges f The hubs of the said plates e are fitted uponthe shafts, being provided with perforations corresponding more or less.perfectlyin shape with the shape of the shaft in cross-section, and thesaid plates 6 are thus caused to turn positively with the said shaft toeffect the desired movement of the bed of coals resting upon the upperedges'of the said plates. The said plates and shafts are provided withmotive devices, bymeans of which the-same are caused to turnsimultaneously and together in one given direction, the direction beingtoward the lower end of the grate, so that the coals will be causedtomove downward, not only by gravity, but by the positive action of thesaid plates. 7 plates and shafts are preferably effected byratchet-wheel and pawl devices; but any other suitable means may beemployed.

The method of moving the shafts and plates which Iprefer-is shown inFigs. 1 and 2,where g g g indicate the ratchet-wheels, secured upontheends of the shafts alternately, the

The movements-0f the said wheels being at one end of one shaft and attheopposite end of the shaft next adjacent each pair lying at oppositesides of the ratchetwheels 9 and resting on the hubs thereof, asindicated in Fig. 2. Said bars of each pair are joined-together by bolts1;, upon which are arranged pawls 7',- disposedbetween the bars of eachpair. The said bars, arranged as described, are suitably held on theirbearings by the weight thereof and are given reciprocal movements bymeans of an eccentric 1c and its strap Z, suitably attached to theforward end of the said bars. The said eccentric k is arranged upon theshaft m, having its bearings in the forward cheek-pieces a of the framea, one eccentric being on each side of the frame and so timed that whenone pair of bars h is moving in one direction the other pair is making areturn movement 'in the opposite direction. he series of plates e uponone shaft ismaking a movement while the series upon the adjacent shaftsat each side are stationary, as will be understood.

While I have referred to the movement of the. plates e as substantiallycontinuous, as a matter of fact when the ratchet-and-pawl mechanism isemployed the movement is actually intermittent. It is evident thatshould I employ sprocket wheels and chains instead of theratchet-and-pawl mechanism the saidv movement would then be reallycontinuous; but for purposes of this invention the action of the ratchetand pawl is preferable.

I prefer to employ between the side plates Near v By this arrangement 1av an inclined center-support 0., (shown in Figs. 1, 2, 10, and 11,)adapted to support the center of the grate bars or shafts and theirplates to prevent the grate as a whole from sagging at the center. Saidsupport comprises two parallel plates or strips a a, held of cleaning,repair, or the like.

apart by blocks a, bolted between, so as to bring the strips in linewith two longitudinal rows or lines of plates 6. 30th the peripheries ofthe plates in said rows and their hubs are circular, and recesses a) aare cut therefor in the upper edges of the strips a a. One striptherefore supports, at its hub, every other one of that line of plates,the recesses a" for the peripheries of intermediate plates being deepenough to give room for their turningwithoutfrictionattheirperipheries.The otherstrip similarly sustains, atits hub,plates upon the alternateshafts unsupported by the first-described strip and is recessed for theperipheries of intermediate plates or disks. In this way I secure alongitudinal central support for the shafts, so as to prevent anydepression or sagging in wide grates. In practice I prefer to employsuch a support in all grates six feet and over in width. It will beunderstood that said support extends from end to end of the furnace,where its ends are firmly secured in any suitable manner. Furthermore,the blocks a, holding the strips (1 a at a proper distance apart, are nowider in the direction of the length of the support than is necessary,and thus ashes and cinders are permitted to fall between said strips a ato the ash-pit.

At the front of the f rame,between the cheek pieces a thereof, isarranged an inclined plate 0, Fig. 1, which forms, with a certainsliding door p, a hopper for the reception of fuel, a space or openingbeing formed at the bottom of the hopper, through which the fuelgravitates onto the upper faces of the grate. An aperture with swingingcover 6 is provided for convenience in observing the interior of thehopper.

The frame a is arranged upon wheels 2, the forward pair of which arejack-wheels or wheels haviri g thereon means to receive crow- -bars orlike instruments, whereby the said wheels may be turned, and thus theframe, together with its grate bars and plates, may be drawn out fromthe furnace for purposes The wheels are preferably arranged on tracks 3to facilitate movement, and to prevent the fuel from being wasted at theside and to provide against escape of heat I have provided at the top ofthe frame a vertical guard-plate 4, which extends from the top of theframe a to or near to-the walls of the furnace, or a horizon tal plate 5of said furnace. The said guard serves also to protect theratehet-and-pawl mechanism from the heat and from the coals, which mighttend to clog their movements.

It is evident that various modifications of the exact construction shownmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention,and I do not wish,therefore,to be understood as limiting myself by thepositive descriptive terms employed, excepting as the state of the artmay require.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is-- '1. In afurnace, the combination with parallel shafts and vertical platesarranged in parallel series, of guards arranged in the vertical planesof the longitudinal rows of plates and partially closing the flaringspaces between the peripheries of said plates, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination in a grate, with vertical plates arranged inlongitudinal rows upon transverse shafts, of guards lying betweenadjacent plates in longitudinal line therewith and partially closing thespace between the peripheries of said plates, substantially as setforth. I

' 3. The combination in a furnace-grate, of transverse shafts, verticalplates arranged on said shafts in parallel series and having hubs, theplates on one shaft alternating in position with those on the adjacentshafts and projecting therebetween, and guards arranged between theparallel plates and above the hubs on a shaft and occupying the space between the peripheries of the plates on the two adjacent shafts,substantially as set forth.

4. In a furnace-grate, the combination with the parallel plates pivotedon transverse shafts and having hubs, of guards having ears perforatedto receive the hub of the plate and havinga top flange lying at the sideof the plate, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with theplates e, having hubs e, at one side, ofguards having ears provided with elongated slots to receive said hubsand having perforated flanges at the top adaptedto lie between parallelplates on the same shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this20th day of February, 1899.

HENRY BENTON. \Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, RUSSELL M. EVERETT.

